ok i've read many interpretations of the song in the past and i'd like to hear yours.
for me it's obvious that ed refers to himself through the whole song.i think he describes the period when he didn't want to continue with the band and didn't do any interviews(he could he tuned in but he tuned out etc)
and obviously the lyric "..well fuckers he still stands.."refers to himself,as he managed to get through the tough period..

I don´t think that is so obvious...I think it´s an interpretation as valid as any other...
but it´s a nice interpretation anyway

i think it's obvious because in many concerts ed has change the lyric to "..fuckers we still stand.."or "fuckers i still stand.."
anyway.just my interpretation

I've always thought the protagonist of the song as Jesus Christ...maybe Ed wrote it from that type of perspective, but I kind of doubt it (we all know Ed's feelings about religion). Even if not about J.C., though, I think it's certainly about someone pure and loving and believes in turning the other cheek, deity or otherwise.

It's about going to California.

"A bad time nothing could save him" i think it's the 94 period when he was really fucked up
"And he still gets his love he just gives it away.
The love he receives is the love that is saved."here i think it's the love of the fans who still like pj's music.
"But first he was stripped, and then he was stabbed by faceless men."
i think this refers to all the journalists that wrote in every magazine that after vitalogy ed's voice sucked,that no code sucked and many more awful things..
ed's answer is tha he still stands..

thanks for the comments

Wasn't Ed into all of that mysticism stuff around 96,97,98 or so? I always kind of interpreted it like a fictional "story" about some kind of a supernatural "human being," with the stuff he was studying and into at the time influencing the story. Robert Plant and Jimmy Page's best Led Zep songs have these kind of elements to them. Remember, not everything has to be autobiographical, I always thought he was telling a cool story worthy of the Lord of the Rings or something.

This is going to sound crazy, but the line "But first he was stripped, and then he was stabbed by faceless men" always reminds me of Shakespeare's "Julius Casaer". Casaer, having risen above all others in Rome (given wings), walks into the Senate chamber and is stripped and stabbed by the senators, all wearing masks. It just always makes a connection for me.

To me, it sounded like flying.

I think it was written about surfing, the whole vibe and how he feels when hes on the water

I think I shall watch that right now

i think it's a story of man, dying and becoming an angel. The devil wanted to take him, but good prevailed over evil

i think it's about purple dinosaurs and bubble gum surrounded by clouds of cotton candy.

oh wait.. that was an acid trip i had... nevermind.

My interpretation is that it is not about somebody specific, but merely a reflection upon society's (the media in specific) lack of gratitude towards generosity. I see the story of the person in the song as being metaphorical of someone who has an emotional or materialistic wealth ("his key to the locks on the chains he saw everywhere"), which he could have kept to himself, but decided to share with others ("he floated back down cause he wanted to share"). Instead of receiving gratitude and respect for his altruistic deeds, people demanded more of his wealth and even questioned his intentions ("first he was stripped, then he was stabbed") by people who themselves have given nothing ("by faceless men"). While most people would retract their generosity, this person figures that a lot of gratitude is given by those that do not have the voice to express it ("the love he recieves is the love that is saved").

The beauty of this song, for me, lies in that it centers around a constructive and positivistic form of cynisism, which is quite rare and not without paradox.

I always saw it as a parable and a nice one at that - you can obviously see it as being ed but I imagine it is rather his perspective of someone who he holds in an esteem that you might hold him in terms of being inspirational etc. Maybe Pete Townsend but he has obviously made it less specific and therefore relates the song better to anyone.

After watching that video I think I am going to pilfer my savings to see them again.

Although very unlikely I think it would be amazing to see PJ do one of those vh1 Storytellers shows because I'm sure some of the messages and themes in their songs would be pretty amazing to hear.. at least thats what i thought when bruce springsteen did his.. just the way he explored all of his lyrics really in depth... i think it would be cool to hear pj explore their songs like that

Why don't one of you just call Ed and ask him?

ha

I take it as individual who got caught up in a banal existence and suddenly finds respite in the waves. Surfing gives the person a feeling of freedom that he wishes he could share with everyone.

Oh, yeah.